SOC 1111 Corporate managers and directors

Chief executives and senior officials Salary

Median salary £89,835 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £90,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For chief executives and senior officials, £99,944 is the typical (median) pay. That is well above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +156% versus the national average. Experienced chief executives and senior officials (top 25%) earn over £141,253.

About this role

Chief executives and senior officials hold the highest positions of strategic leadership within organisations. They set organisational direction, represent the organisation to stakeholders, and bear ultimate responsibility for performance, compliance and culture.

Key responsibilities

Setting and communicating organisational strategy and vision
Overseeing financial performance and resource allocation
Representing the organisation to external stakeholders, investors and regulators
Building and leading the senior management team
Ensuring regulatory compliance and corporate governance

Qualifications and entry routes

Typically requires extensive senior management experience, often 15+ years. Many hold MBAs or equivalent postgraduate qualifications. Professional memberships (e.g., CMI, IoD) are common.

Career outlook

Competition for these roles is intense. Demand is steady across all sectors, with increasing emphasis on ESG expertise and digital transformation experience.

Key skills

Strategic leadership Financial acumen Stakeholder management Decision-making under uncertainty Organisational development

Common industries

All sectors
Public sector
Private corporations
Non-profit organisations

Data coverage

SOC code 1111

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 133,000

Median Salary

£89,835

Mean Salary

£141,016

Jobs (000s)

133k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £48,429Median: £89,835P75: £141,253

P10: --P25: £48kMedian: £90kP75: £141kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£48,429

0-2 years

Mid Level

£48,429

3-7 years

Senior

£141,253

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +192% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +11.1%Real growth: -19.5%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 23.5%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£89,835

Full-time Only

£99,944

Full-time premium: +£10,109

Chief executives and senior officials salary: common questions

How much do chief executives and senior officials earn in the UK?

Chief executives and senior officials earn a median of £99,944 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £48,429 and £141,253.

Is £99,944 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for chief executives and senior officials?

Entry-level chief executives and senior officials typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £48,429, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £41,828.

Have chief executives and senior officials salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median chief executives and senior officials pay has risen from £86,597 to £99,944 — +15% in cash terms, or -16% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for chief executives and senior officials?

Male chief executives and senior officials earn a median £96,906 and female chief executives and senior officials £74,107 — a gap of +24% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).